HEALTH CARE

Based on Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2014 survey, people who receive help from food banks:

0%

Have "fair" or "poor" health

0%

Live in a household that has at least one member with diabetes

0%

Have unpaid medical bills

0%

Have had to choose between buying food and paying for medicine

Not everyone can say with certainty that they will have food for their next meal. Sadly, that’s the case for the more than 200,000 Idahoans who are food insecure. The Idaho Foodbank is working in collaboration with healthcare partners to make it easier for Idahoans who are food insecure and have health issues to get the food they need to promote better health.

Good Food for Good Health

Individuals who are food insecure are at higher risk of developing a chronic disease. Many of Idaho’s most common chronic diseases are diet-related including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The right diet can reduce a person’s risk of getting these diseases. Or, if a person has already been diagnosed, help manage it effectively.

Food Partnerships

For several years, The Idaho Foodbank has been focused on obtaining more fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution. Greater support from Idaho’s agricultural community and an increase in the number of grocery stores participating in our Food Rescue program have pushed the percentage of donated food considered nutritious to greater than 80%.

Stable access to nutritious food can help the people we serve before the medical bills start stacking up.

Karen Vauk, President and CEO, The Idaho Foodbank

Hunger and Health

Video courtesy of Feeding America

Food Insecurity Can:

Increase the risk of developing a chronic disease such as diabetes

Prevent effective chronic disease management

Increase the likelihood of hospitalization

Result in poorer patient outcomes and higher treatment costs

For people with diabetes, for example, a healthy diet is an essential part of the treatment plan and the only way to effectively manage the disease. Poor nutrition can lead to hospitalization. Over time it can contribute to frequent hospital readmissions and serious health complications that can be expensive to treat.

Partnering for a Healthier Community

Community Health Screenings

The Idaho Foodbank is now working in collaboration with healthcare partners to make it easier for Idahoans who are food insecure and have health issues to get the food they need to promote better health.

In July of 2016 the Idaho Medical Association, with sponsorship by the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, and support from the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics passed a resolution that recognizes hunger as a social determinant of health. The resolution also acknowledges The Idaho Foodbank as an important healthcare partner. Since this resolution was passed, healthcare professionals across Idaho have been encouraged to include hunger-related questions in patient screenings and offer the pantry referrals to those who need food assistance. This is an important step towards a healthier Idaho.

Screen and Refer

Participating healthcare organizations such as community clinics include food insecurity questions in their patient screening. If the need for food is indicated, the patient is referred to a local food pantry. Healthcare organizations with the physical space can provide their own food pantry on site.

Free Health Screenings

Conducted by students from the Health Sciences Department, the screenings take place at various community locations and are available to individuals at no charge. During the 2015-2016 school year, the Foodbank distributed food through its Mobile Pantry program at all 6 health screening events held by ISU.